WHISTLER, British Columbia -- A men's Olympic luger from the former Soviet republic of Georgia died after a crash during training Friday, an Olympic official with direct knowledge of the crash said.

The official told The Associated Press that the International Olympic Committee received confirmation of Nodar Kumaritashvili's death. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the 21-year-old luger's family hadn't been notified yet.

... It was unclear how fast Kumaritashvili was going, although many sliders have exceeded 90 mph on this course. The track is considered the world's fastest and several Olympians recently questioned its safety. More than a dozen athletes have crashed during Olympic training.

There's some luge/bobsled track designer who told the Vancouver IOC "sure, steel beams right next to the track where unprotected lugers will be zooming by at 90 mph is PERFECTLY SAFE." And then they built it that way. I guess they are just lucky it wasn't a four-man bobsled team from Ontario.

Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....

*snip*

Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus

Apolo got his record-tying medal, but he didn't win it as much as the Korean delegation blew the sweep. With a half lap to go, the third-place skater tried to sneak in for the silver and took out himself and a teammate, allowing Ohno to skate in for silver. I just shake my head.

Originally posted by Matt TrackerApolo got his record-tying medal, but he didn't win it as much as the Korean delegation blew the sweep. With a half lap to go, the third-place skater tried to sneak in for the silver and took out himself and a teammate, allowing Ohno to skate in for silver. I just shake my head.

You shook your head; I laughed my ass off.

"You're about as much fun as a divorce-- which is not a bad idea.""I want custody of me."

Alexandre Bilodeau won Canada's first gold medal at an Olympics it hosted. He took first place in the men's mogul event, and NBC ended one of its major subplots just two days into its coverage of the games. Although, honestly, I figured the Canadian women's hockey team would win gold eventually; they won their first game 18-0.

Originally posted by Matt TrackerAlexandre Bilodeau won Canada's first gold medal at an Olympics it hosted. He took first place in the men's mogul event, and NBC ended one of its major subplots just two days into its coverage of the games. Although, honestly, I figured the Canadian women's hockey team would win gold eventually; they won their first game 18-0.

So NBC has been as over the top about the "Canada hasn't won gold at home" as CTV? I'm so glad that Bilodeau won, for more than just "woo gold", because as you say the commentators can finally use some new material.

It is the policy of the documentary crew to remain true observers and not interfere with its subjects."This topic is going to suck to read in three years." -Psycho Penguin

Originally posted by Matt TrackerAlexandre Bilodeau won Canada's first gold medal at an Olympics it hosted. He took first place in the men's mogul event, and NBC ended one of its major subplots just two days into its coverage of the games. Although, honestly, I figured the Canadian women's hockey team would win gold eventually; they won their first game 18-0.

So NBC has been as over the top about the "Canada hasn't won gold at home" as CTV? I'm so glad that Bilodeau won, for more than just "woo gold", because as you say the commentators can finally use some new material.

Originally posted by Matt TrackerAlexandre Bilodeau won Canada's first gold medal at an Olympics it hosted. He took first place in the men's mogul event, and NBC ended one of its major subplots just two days into its coverage of the games. Although, honestly, I figured the Canadian women's hockey team would win gold eventually; they won their first game 18-0.

So NBC has been as over the top about the "Canada hasn't won gold at home" as CTV? I'm so glad that Bilodeau won, for more than just "woo gold", because as you say the commentators can finally use some new material.

At least you don't have Costas?

Jesus! No doubt! I had to turn the sound off during the opening ceremony just to be able to enjoy it. Nobody thinks more of their wit than Bob Costas. He's the most smug dick in broadcasting. And, while we're at it, it's painful to watch Al Michaels in a studio. I hated him on MNF for years, but at least he is organic on MNF.

And, can we stop using "get on the podium"? Is it really that hard to say "medal"?

Originally posted by StaggerLeeJesus! No doubt! I had to turn the sound off during the opening ceremony just to be able to enjoy it. Nobody thinks more of their wit than Bob Costas. He's the most smug dick in broadcasting. And, while we're at it, it's painful to watch Al Michaels in a studio. I hated him on MNF for years, but at least he is organic on MNF.

And, can we stop using "get on the podium"? Is it really that hard to say "medal"?

Last night, NBC broadcast the medal ceremony for the women's moguls. Except when it came time to hear the name announced and the applause for the medalists, Costas asked Collinsworth to talk about what it's like to watch it. We got his voiceover as Hannah got her gold medal instead of the genuine atmosphere of the room.

Originally posted by Matt TrackerLast night, NBC broadcast the medal ceremony for the women's moguls.

and the young lady in third place was crazy thrilled to be there and was going NUTS for the anthem - but did we get to see any of it? No. Only the more or less emotionless 1st place girl.

Their coverage sucks. I am so sick of "profiles" of athletes. How about - some sports?

We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.

That the universe was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, I will no more believe than that the accidental jumbling of the alphabet would fall into a most ingenious treatise of philosophy - Swift

Yeah and last night they also turned it into another story of Canada's first gold, something I had enough of already. And during that medal ceremony when an American was being awarded the bronze, they were babbling about Canada winning gold the whole time. It was like the American wasn't even there.

Originally posted by SchippeWreckOn the other hand, this year's coverage is just plain awful.

The skating track had problems last night too, and virtually all the outdoor coverage includes video of the imported snow lying on hay bales. This is not a smooth Olympics for NBC to cover, and they're getting punchy. Last night, Costas and Collinsworth traded shots about their wardrobes.

There have already been two lengthy zamboni breakdowns at these Games, including one during the men's 500-meter speedskating event that took so long to correct that Shani Davis just up and quit before his second heat. (Granted, he was about 28th out of 40 skaters, but still.)

I'm also not a big fan of CTV/Sportsnet/TSN's odd mix-and-match teams of their personalities rather than sticking with established teams. (Aside from the curling broadcasters.) How much more fun would it be to see Dan O'Toole and Jay Onrait on a morning Olympics broadcast, just cracking jokes like they do on Sportscentre?

Kirk, crackers are a family food. Happy families. Maybe single people eat crackers, we don't know. Frankly, we don't want to know. It's a market we can do without.

I know the company I work for got a huge contract to make snow making machines and controllers for same for the downhill. But temperatures have to cooperate a bit.

We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.

That the universe was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, I will no more believe than that the accidental jumbling of the alphabet would fall into a most ingenious treatise of philosophy - Swift

“I plan on going so deep into the desert, that any failure of my equipment, could cost me my life.” – Evan Tanner, August 18, 2008 The guy was a bit of a nut, but he was a great fighter. what a shame. RIP Evan.